Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,829 per month in Saint John Island vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,948 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.1K per month in Saint John Island vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 573% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint John Island sits 335% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.96 $30.96

$1.94 ฿63.5

1495.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$18.64 ฿609

690.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.82 ฿255

90.28%

Cappuccino

$8.87 $8.87

$1.95 ฿63.8

354.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$0.85 ฿27.77

317.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$0.35 ฿11.58

891.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.13 ฿69.6

140.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$3.73 ฿122

84.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.71 ฿56.0

80.12%

White Bread (500g)

$7.88 $7.88

$1.63 ฿53.2

383.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$1.14 ฿37.15

968.42%

Eggs

$11.90 $11.90

$1.93 ฿63.1

516.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.26 $32.26

$16.21 ฿530

99.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.64 $32.64

$3.12 ฿102

946.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.18 $24.18

$10.90 ฿356

121.83%

Apples (1kg)

$21.87 $21.87

$2.75 ฿90.0

695.27%

Banana (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.21 ฿39.52

237.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

$1.62 ฿53.0

982.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$1.59 ฿51.8

649.69%

Potato (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$1.40 ฿45.70

437.86%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$1.17 ฿38.17

548.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.88 $4.88

$0.66 ฿21.60

639.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$0.53 ฿17.22

549.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.24 $9.24

$4.69 ฿153

97.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.16 $23.16

$18.66 ฿609

24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.80 ฿58.8

148.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.23 ฿106

87.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.12 $7.12

$0.90 ฿29.26

691.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$151 $151

$19.21 ฿628

683.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$1.41 ฿45.91

2048.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.27 ฿41.58

24.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.1K $47.1K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

121.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$53.2K $53.2K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

139.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$298 $298

$69.1 ฿2,256

330.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$100 $100

$14.08 ฿460

610.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$18.00 ฿588

466.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

$54.7 ฿1,787

46.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$26.77 ฿874

88.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$85.0 ฿2,776

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 $99.6

$70.6 ฿2,306

41.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,934 $3,934

$428 ฿14.0K

818.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,471 $3,471

$237 ฿7,752

1362.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,904 $4,904

$801 ฿26.2K

511.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,533 $4,533

$515 ฿16.8K

779.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,505 $4,505

$617 ฿20.2K

629.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,934 in Saint John Island versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 630% higher in Saint John Island, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Saint John Island versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $981 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saint John Island vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John Island costs about 573% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,743 per month in Saint John Island and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 684% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 298% more in Saint John Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Saint John Island at $5,829. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John Island it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $5,829 in Saint John Island. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.